• Union sets date for walkout,

Oklahoma’s largest teacher union says “schools will shut down” if a pay raise for teachers is not approved by April 23.

“We have to be really smart and really strategic, and we have to give the (state) Legislature time to pass something,” said David DuVall, executive director of the Oklahoma Education Association, which announced the deadline on Tuesday.

The idea of a statewide teacher walkout has been gaining momentum during recent weeks through discussions and pushes on social media.

A Facebook group called “Oklahoma Teacher Walkout — The Time Is Now!” that was created last week had more than 40,700 members Monday evening.

The Oklahoma Education Association announced that it would hold a news conference at 1 p.m. Thursday to unveil “a detailed revenue package and statewide school closure strategy.”

DuVall said the OEA is going to ask the Legislature to approve at least a $10,000 pay raise that could be funded over three years. The OEA also plans to ask for increased funding for school operations.

“We plan to present a revenue plan (on Thursday) to fund it,” DuVall said.

The OEA also plans to hold an April 2 rally at the Capitol, although DuVall said it wouldn’t include school closures.

Some teachers had been advocating for a strike earlier than April 23.

DuVall said the date was selected to give the Legislature time to pass its plan, or a version of it that includes a pay raise.

“Our board of directors have already authorized us to take strong action to fund our schools and achieve pay raises for teachers and support personnel,” DuVall said. “We are ready to act.”